It’s “Dine and Discover Queens” time! “Dine and Discover Queens” is a monthly spotlight on some of the best food and drink options from around the borough! This month, we are featuring Rory Murphy, co-owner of Murphy’s Sports Bar, Astoria's neighborhood pub, where great drinks, good company, and nonstop sports come together. To learn more, go to https://murphysbarastoria.com/.
Can you share a bit about your restaurant journey?
I moved to Astoria from Ireland in the summer of 2014 with little experience in the hospitality industry. I started out working as a bartender at The Quays Pub, and in 2016, a few Irish friends and I opened The Wolfhound. That experience taught me a great deal about the ups and downs of owning and operating a neighborhood bar.
In 2023, the opportunity came along to take over the former Joe’s Garage space. After years of working toward owning a place of my own, being able to put my family name on Murphy’s was an incredibly proud moment. It took a lot of hard work to get the business up and running, and I’m very proud of what Murphy’s has become.
What are your most memorable moments?
The most memorable moments are the ones I see every day, when customers come in and tell me how happy they are to have a place like Murphy’s that they can call home. That means more to me than any goal, touchdown or big sporting moment you could experience at a sports bar. Seeing people from the neighborhood smiling, having a good time and feeling at home at Murphy’s, nothing beats that.
Then again, with the Knicks and the World Cup, this summer may just be one of the greatest New York has ever experienced. What a time to be alive!
Are there dishes or drinks that have become beloved by the Queens community?
We pride ourselves on great service and great food at Murphy’s. I always tell people when they come through the door that there are two things they need to know. First, try our Guinness. We serve a very good pint of Guinness. Try it and you’ll see.
Second, our menu is very Queens. It’s a mix of flavors from around the world, just like the amazing neighborhood we call home. Feeling Latin? Try our tacos or salchipapas. Looking for something Irish? You can’t go wrong with our spice bag or chicken sandwich. And if you feel like getting a little messy, definitely try some of our Murphy’s classics, like the Murphy’s Sliders, dipped in gravy, our infamous wings, or my personal favorite, the French Onion Burger. You won’t be disappointed.
